Trackless power-driven vehicle.



I. E. PALMER. f TRAGKLESS POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.13, 190s.

938,786 Patented N0v.2,19o9.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. E. PALMER.

TRAGKLESS POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.13, 1908.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

mventarf Z5aacE.PaZmer witnesses Mg 5g I. E. PALMER.-

TRAGKLESS POWER DRIVEN VBB'IGLB.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.131908.

@mm M UNrrED sTATEs PA ENT o F1os. I'

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT.

` TRACKLESS POWER-DRIVEN VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Pate-nt. Patented Ny. 2l, 1909.

Application filed November 13,1908. Serial No. 462,861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC E. PALMER a I citizen of the United States, lresiding at Mid- This invention relates to trackless, power driven vehicles, and has more particularly for its object-s to provide a construction whereby if desired the Yuse of pneumatic tires may be avoided, to" provide increased traction, to provide more extensive wheel support so as to reduce the weight upon individual wheels, to reduce the, liability of skidding, and to provide suitablelyielding supports for the wheels..

In order that the principles of the invention may be clearly understood, I have disclosed certain types or embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawings, wherein-'- f' Figure 1 is a plan view of the rear part of an automobile provided with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1,. but representing a slightly modified form of driving mechanism; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but representing another form of driving mechanism; Fig. 6 'is a side elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a some- ,what diagrammatic view of aform of means for steering the wheels; Fig.` 8 is a .similar view of a-somewhat differentv form of steering mechanism; Fig. 9 isa detail of a modified form of steering mechanism; F ig.` 10 isa view upon an enlarged scale off the yokes or frames, and showing their relation to the axle and thevehiclewheels.

Referring lirst to the form of the invention represented in Figs. 1 and 2 and to the form of yoke shown in Fig. 10, the body fra-me of the automobile (the rea-r part only of the frame being shown in said figures)- is represented at 1, it being of any suitable and construction.

ty e Suitably connected to the under side of the side members of the vbody frame are springs 2 2, one of which is shown more clearly. in Fig. 2. These springs may be connected either at their ends or at a part 'intermediate their ends to the vehicle body.

The ends of each spring are here shown asy connected in any desired manner with the ends of'a yoke or frame 3, which may be of any suitable shape, but which is here represented as of a. general D form .(see Fig.

10). Each yoke or'frame, as shown more clearly in Fig. 10, is provided with one or more earings 4, by which it is mounted for rocking movement upon a divided axle 5 of usual type, the yokes or frames being oppositely positioned as` shown. Any suitable driving means may be provided. In Figs. l and 2, I have shown a sprocket drive comprising a sprocket gear 6 mounted upon and driven by the power driven member of the The wheels 7-.7, 8 8 are mounted upon the yokes or frames 3-3 for lateral deflecting movement with respect to the lon itudinal axis ofthe vehicle. To permit the esiredl rocking or steering movement of the wheels, they may be connected in any suitable manner to the yokes 3, as for example by means of rocking rin s, such as shown in my application Serial To. 448,129, led August 12,

1908, or by means of intermeshing teeth, such as shown invmy Patent N o. 889,960. Preferably each of the wheels is mounted for rocking orlsteering movement. In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each ofl the wheels is provided with a suitable sprocket gear 9, about which and the sprocket gear 6 passes a driving sprocket chain 10. If

desired, a guiding roll or-sprocket ear 11 v .suitably supported from the yoke or rame 3 may be provided between each of the wheels 7 v, and 8. y

The construction' shown` in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and'2, excepting that the driving sprocket gears 12 engage the upper run of the` sprocket chains 13,'and sprocket chain guiding rolls or gears 14-,14 are provided upony opposite sides of rthat instead of employing sprocket driving gearing/I have substituted gear wheels. `These gear ,wheels may be `of any suitable type, but are herein represented as v composed of gears 16 mounted upon the diyided axle 5 ythe gears 12'. Said gears 14 are mounted and receiving motion from thev driven part thereof. Vith the gears 16 mesh gears 17-17 mounted upon the yokes or frames 3-3, and

Y f single yoke,

' ployed to deflect said wh els.

' to move the Y levers 20 uponv the wheels 7-7, S-S are provided gears '19-,-19`meshing with the gears 17 -17 Any other suitable form of driving mechanism may be employed.

In each 4of the forms o my invention, it will be apparent that the yokes 3-3 are so mounted as to rock, and being connected to vthe vehicle body by springs, vthey may move relatively thereto if an obstruction be presented to one or more 'of the wheels, and that they may move independently of each other. While the normal position of each yoke or frame is parallel to the side members of the vehicle body, it is apparent that they ymay tilt to any angle with regard to it and may also under certain conditions move bodily toward and from it, while maintaining their normal position of parallelism with it. In other words, the yokes 3-3 may adjust themselves to any position dependent upon thenbstruct-ions encountered and the character of the road bed. I`f desired, the opposite yokes may be connected together or formed as a but preferably' they are independent. 'Ihey may if desired be provided with interengaging or mutually supporting parts.V

WhileI have herein represented the rear part/of an automobile as provided with yokes 3 supporting driven wheels, it is to be understood that if desired the forward-part of the automobile maybe similarly constructed.

Preferably each of the four wheels is..

mounted for lateral deflection askpreviously referred to. Any suitable means may be em- Preferably the detlectingmeans is connected to the usual steeringmechanism of the automobile, not herein shown. Asshown in Figs. rlfto 6 in- -clusive and diagranmiatically in Fig. 7 each of the wheels is providedwith a steering lever 20.` Any operating means may be employed in unison.l As Vindi- `:ated in dotted lines in Fig. 7, theleading wheels '7-7 Vare laterally deflected ina direction opposite tothe lateral deflection of the wheels 8-'-8, so that the wheels 7 8, of eachl Y side4 set followsV the same curve and hence maytravel at the same speed when deflected, rendering `unnecessary the employment of clutch mechanism for the whegls, or other mechanism permitting one pair of the wheels to travelat a different-'speed from the other pair. To accomplish this result, I have pivotally connected the inner end of each lever to links 21 connected by a common bolt 22. 7

Movement of the bolt 22 toward either side of, the vehicle simultaneously delects the wheels 7-7 and 8--8 in opposite directions into the V same curved path.

While this movement may be accomplished 1n any suitable manner,

' I have herein represented a. link 23 pivoted at l wheels upon each yoke Tasegee one end to the bolt 22 and pivoted at the other end to one arm of a bell crank lever 24 suitably mounted upon the frame, the opposite arm of said lever being pivoted to the rod 25 of the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

In Fig. .8, I have represented a islightly modied form of mechanism or operating construction the` the levers 20. In such levers 2() are connected by pin and slot connections 26 to the connecting rod 27 having a pin and slot connection 28to the suitably mounted bell crank lever 29 which in turn is connectedto thev rod25of the steeringmech anism.

' If desired, a steering rod, such as 25, may

be directly connected to one of the levers 20. In Fig. 9, I have represented two steering rods -30 directly connected to the levers 20 420 of the leading wheels 7-7. Forwardlongitudinal movement of one of said rods 30 will serve wheels 77 in one direction,`while forward longitudinal movement of the other steering rod 3() will deflect said leading wheels 7-7 in the opposite direction.- Upon movement of either steering rod 30, the wheels 8-8 are to deiiect the, leading v oppositely deflected with respect to the steer y i ing wheels 7 7.

Having thus described one type or emfbod'imentlot1 my inventiomI desire it to be fully understoodV that although. specific terms are employed, they are used in afgeneric and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.'

Claims.

l. Running gear for trackless4 power driven vehicles comprising, `in combination,

'avehicle body, an axle or support, a pair of independent yokes or frames, mountedy for independent rocking movement at opposite sides of the vehicle' upon the axle or support in conformity to the road bed, a yielding iop connection between each yoke or frame and the vehicle body, and means mounted concentrically with one or or yframes for driving yone lor or frame.

Y iio both of said yokes -f more of lthefV 2. Running gear for' trackless, power f 4. Running gear for trackless power comprising in combination a yoke pivoted uponr driven vehicles comprising, in combination, a vehicle body, an axle or support, a pair of independent yokes or frames mounted for independent rocking movement at opposite sides of the vehicle upon the axle or support in conformity to the road bed, and driven wheels supported at opposite parts of each of said yokes or frames.

5. Running gear for trackless power driven vehicles comprising, in combination, a vehicle body, an axle or support, a pair of independent yokes or frames mounted for independent rocking movement at opposite sides of the vehicle upon t-he axle or support .in conformity to the road bed, all of the wheels upon said yoke or frame being dirigible, and yielding connections between said yokes or frames and the vehicle body.

6. Running gear for trackless, power driven vehicles comprising in combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a yoke pivoted upon the axle, a pair of wheels mounted upon the yoke, means positively to deflect said wheels in opposite directions, and a spring support between said yoke and said vehicle body.

7. Running gear for trackless power driven vehicles comprising, in combination, a vehicle body, `an axle, a pair of opposite independent yokes, pivoted upon said axle for independent rocking movement in conformity to the road bed, and a plurality of wheels mounted upon each yoke, all of said wheels being laterally deiiectable.

V8. Running gear for trackless, power driven vehicles comprising in combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a closed frame supported for rocking movement at a plurality of points upon said axle, two laterally defiectable wheels mounted upon said frame, and a supporting spring having its ends and intermediate part connected to the/ frame and vehicle body.

9. Running geark for trackless, power driven vehicles comprising in combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a pairof opposite, independent yokes pivoted upon sald axle for independent rocking movement in conforrnity to the road bed, a pair of wheels mounted upon each of said yokes, means laterally to deflect said wheelssimultaneously, and springs connecting said yokes and said vehicle body.

10. Running gear for trackless, power driven vehicles comprising in combination, a vehicle body, an axle, a pair of opposite, independent yokes pivoted upon said axle,

a pair of wheels mounted upon each of said yokes, means to deflect the leading wheels and rear wheels of said pairs in directions opposed to each other and yielding connections between said yokes and frame.

11. Running gear for trackless, power driven vehicles comprising'in combination a vehicle body, frame supporting meansthereon, a pair of opposite, ,independent trames pivoted upon said supporting means, a pair of wheels mounted upon each of said frames, and means to deflect the leading wheels and rear wheels of said pairs in directions opposed to each other.

12. lRunning gear for trackless, power driven vehicles comprising in combination a vehicle body, a frame support secured thereto, a frame pivoted upon said support, a pair of wheels arranged one in advance of the other andmounted on the frame, a driving gear mountedupon said frame support and driving connections between said gear and both of said wheels. 13. Running gear for trackless powerdriven vehicles comprising in combination a vehicle body, an axle or support, a pair of independent yokes or frames mounted for independent rocking movement at opposite sides of the vehicle upon the axle or support in conformity to the road-bed, and dirigible wheels supported at opposite parts of each of said yokes or frames.

14. Running gearl fory trackless powerdriven vehicles comprising in combination a vehicle body, an axle or support, a pair of independent yokes or frames mounted for independent rocking movement at opposite sides 'of the vehicle upon the axle or support in conformity to the road-bed, wheels supported at opposite parts of each of said yokes or frames, and a spring connection between each of the yokes or frames and the vehicle body.

15. Running gear for trackless power driven vehicles, comprising, inv combination,

means to deflect the said wheels of each yoke or frame in opposite directions simultaneously. f

In -testimony whereof, I have signed my y, name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

-` ISAACE. PALMER.

REUBEN MYRON BURR. 

